QA/G-3 provides non-mandatory guidance to help organizations plan, implement, and evaluate management assessments of their quality systems. This technical guidance was developed by EPA to assist those involved in assessments of quality systems to meet requirements provided in EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans (EPA QA/R-2) and EPA Manual 5360 A1 and to gain value from the process. It discusses both internal and external assessments of EPA’s quality system and of the quality systems of those performing work for and with EPA. It does not address certification of quality or environmental management systems, as conferred by the International Standards Organization (ISO) or others.

QA/G-4D is a PC-based software package designed to determine the feasibility of data quality objectives defined using the Data Quality Objectives (DQO) process. The software supplements the guidance provided in EPA QA/G-4. The previous DOS-based software has been replaced with a Windows-based software program.

QA/G-5 provides guidance on developing Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) that will meet EPA expectations and requirements. This document provides a linkage between the DQO process and the QAPP. It contains tips, advice, and case studies to help users develop improved QAPPs.

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Region 10 Quality Management Plan

This document defines and describes the Quality Management (QM), Quality Assurance (QA), and Quality Control (QC) policies and responsibilities required by Region 10, in concurrence with the Agency's mandated QM program.

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Introduction to the Contract Laboratory ProgramContract Laboratory Program Guidance for Field Samplers

EPA-540-R-00-003August 2004

This document is designed for field samplers to help clarify sampling procedures necessary to submit samples for CLP analysis. It acts as a reference for the Regions and sampling contractors to promote consistency in sampling procedures throughout the Regions and to ensure proper adherence to CLP requirements. This document is intended to be used as a supplement to, not as a replacement for, existing Regional sampling instructions.

General guidance to organizations on assessing data quality criteria and performance specifications for decision making. G-9R is non-technical document and shows a reviewer what constitutes an appropriate Data Quality Assessment (DQA), and how to recognize situations or reports where a DQA has been conducted.

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Alternate Test Procedure (ATP) Application Form and Checklist

The EPA Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water (OGWDW) ATP Coordinator for the Clean Water Act, Robin Oshiro, determined that the performance of the Colilert-18 method is substantially similar to methods listed at 40 CFR Part 136 for measurement of fecal coliforms. However, until the method has been formally promulgated nationally as part of the 40 CFR Part 136 under the Clean Water Act, the laboratory(s) intending to use IDEXX Colilert -18 Coliform/E. Coli Enzyme Substrate Test as an ATP for the detection and enumeration of total coliforms in wastewater samples must request an approval from Region 10.

This document was prepared by the EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (OWOW), and is designed to encourage and facilitate the development of volunteer QAPPs by presenting explanations and examples. The examples follow the format of the EPA QA/R-5 EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans for Environmental Data Operations guidance. This document explains the basic steps and processes one goes through when preparing a quality assurance project plan. Highly recommended introductory-level document if you are just getting started with the preparation of quality assurance project plans for any EPA program.